Toyota appears to tease Crown Estate Concept for the U.S. market

Refreshing your memories on what appears to be in the works for the global Toyota Crown lineup, we’ll start with the Crown we get in the U.S. that Toyota North America calls a “lift-up sedan” but Toyota Japan calls a crossover. Then there’s the Crown sedan fastback that replaced the three-box Crown sedan and debuted in March in hydrogen fuel cell trim. There’s the Crown Sport that recently debuted in Japan, also labeled a crossover there. Last among the four body styles shown during the launch event in 2022 was the Crown Estate Concept. The “estate” name suggests it’s going to be considered a wagon somewhere in the world, but that’s not likely when it crosses the Pacific to head our way. Our local Toyota outpost teased an image of a car whose details line up beautifully with the Estate Concept. The caption: “With all-wheel drive, this hybrid electric mid-size SUV goes 𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 what’s expected. C u … soon.” 

The emphasis on “beyond” refers to the Beyond Zero badge the automaker puts on some of its hybrids, like the Prius and Crown sedan. 

The wagon concept was 194.1 inches long, 74 inches wide, and 63.8 inches wide. Those figures make it 13 inches longer than the RAV4 and an inch wider, but three inches lower. Compared to the Highlander, the concept is 0.8 inch shorter, two inches narrower, and four inches lower. So it could be for buyers who want a more rakish Highlander, eh? We wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the Venza that feels the squeeze, though; other than the Venza being eight inches shorter than the Estate Concept, the duo are within two inches with respect to height and width. 

Expect the Crown’s hybrid powertrains on offer, either the 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder with 236 combined horsepower or the turbocharged 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with a combined 340 hp, and standard all-wheel drive. Japanese buyers get a plug-in hybrid as well that uses the 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The L.A. Auto Show begins November 17, so it’s possible Toyota will have more to share then.